Geoff McFetridge: Drawing a Life

A documentary about Calgary-born graphic artist Geoff McFetridge will open the Calgary International Film Festival on Sept. 21.

You may know Spike Jonze directed ADAPTATION, HER, and WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE. But these films have another common thread: they all share titles designed by Calgary native Geoff McFetridge (Dip ’93, VCD), a prolific visual artist who often works behind the scenes on high-profile media and advertising projects. He’s done work for Nike and Vans in the realm of footwear. His work has been used on Pepsi billboards and Apple watch faces. But there is so much more to the man than that. GEOFF MCFETRIDGE: DRAWING A LIFE opens a window into his career and personal life while addressing the universal questions of what makes for a fulfilling and creative existence.

Shot over the course of several years, Dan Covert’s feature documentary delves deeply into how McFetridge developed a career that remains entirely his own even as he straddles the divide between corporate work and personal expression. At one point, McFetridge states: “The downfall of design is that you’re anonymous.” DRAWING A LIFE does away with that anonymity, bringing to the forefront an artist of extraordinary vision and compassion.

A scene from the documentary Geoff McFetridge: Drawing a Life, which will open the Calgary International Film Festival.